Motion-sequence activated toy wand

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a toy wand that is activated and controlled by a sequence of motions of the wand while in the hand of an operator. When moved through a specific sequence of motions (herein termed a “spell”, the wand will produce an appealing display of lights whose purpose is to amuse or entertain the wand operator or others in the viewing area. The toy wand comprises a casing, a means for detecting a sequence of motions, one or more lights, and a means for providing time-varying illumination from the lights as a function of the history of motions of the wand

[0001] This non-provisional patent application references provisionalapplication Ser. No. 60/214/317, filing date Jun. 27, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Inventors and toy companies have been putting battery poweredlights on sticks and toys since the first small batteries and lightsmade flashlights possible. (Hockenberry, U.S. Pat. No. 879640/1908)

[0003] Lighted wand or sword-like toys, at their most basic, use a lightwhich is constantly on when the toy is in use. The entertaining visualvalue comes from waving the stick in a dark area, the persistence ofvision of the eye making a connected, lit, line of illumination. Flowerypatterned, lighted flexible ends have added value to this style oflighted wands (Davis, U.S. Pat. No. 4891032/1990).

[0004] Wands with fast blinking lights have been made possible by LED(light emitting diode) technology, creating more interestingillumination patterns.. LEDs have also permitted the use of multiplecolors. Integrated circuits have also brought sound to sword-like toys.Sound modules and transmitters have become miniaturized enough toinclude sound effects in toy swords, but not in wands.

[0005] Sensate Wand and Sword-Like toys:

[0006] McCaslin (U.S. Pat. No. 4282681/1981) describes a lighted wandthat senses the electrical resistance of the hand holding the wand, andblinks the light at a corresponding speed.

[0007] An early attempt to couple motion-sensing to lighted sticks fortoy purposes can be seen in Scolari (U.S. Pat. No. 4678450/1987), wherea strobe flash light is discharged into the translucent blade of asword, actuated by an inertial switch. The switch is activated by thesword striking a hard object.

[0008] Motion-sensing grew more sophisticated in Shima (U.S. Pat. No.6150947/2000), in which an accelerometer is used to help sense thedifference in strength between a shake and a strike of a toy sword. Adiffering sound is generated depending on the strength of the sensedmotion. Gastgeb et al (4904222) describes a toy sword whose motion issensed by picking up the oscillatory signals from a bendable inertialelement.

[0009] All of the prior art in sensate wand and sword toys has requiredan on/off switch to set the toy electronics inactive when not in use.

OBJECTIVES AND ADVANTAGES

[0010] It is important to note that none of the prior art of sensatewand or sword toys teaches performance that is more than aninstantaneous reaction to a motion, acceleration, or other input.

[0011] In mythology and literature, wands are an implement of primaryuse in conjuring spells, such spells having a specific and mysteriousinvocation and a specific outcome or effect. Spells are usually conjuredby verbal incantation and/or a specific motion of the wand. A feeling ofthe power, mystery, magic and subtlety of traditional wand conjuring,presented in the form of an entertaining toy, is the objective of thisinvention.

[0012] It is therefore an object of the preset invention to provide aseemingly magical toy wand that is operated by performing“motion-spells”—precise sequences of wand motions, which result inentertaining light displays. The brilliant colored light displays arethe effect, or reward of conjuring a spell correctly.

[0013] A further object of the present invention is to use a motionsensor, such as an accelerometer, and processing of its signal to allowa subtlety and complexity and array of spells and displays.

[0014] A further object of the present invention is to complement thesubtlety and complexity of spells and displays with a magical-seemingconstruction of the wand, by making the wand's electronics and housingsmall, lightweight, sturdy, and sealed.

[0015] A further object of the present invention is to use lightingdisplays that are so unusual, bright and colorful that the displaysthemselves have a magical quality, independent of their means ofgeneration.

[0016] A further object of the present invention is to control allaspects of wand operation purely by motion of the wand, withoutresorting to the use of switches, even to end play sessions. The magicalfeel of the wand is preserved and augmented by the avoidance of mundanemechanical and electrical contrivance. A (very long-lasting) sealed (ornon-obvious) battery would also abet this objective.

[0017] A further objective is to provide very long battery life by useof the power-savings and “sleep” modes of modern microprocessors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] A toy wand has an elongated casing having a handle end and a tipend. The casing encloses a means for detecting motion of the wand, ameans for emitting a human response and a microprocessor that connectsthe detector and the emitter. The microprocessor includes a library oftarget motion sequences, a time buffer for recording the motion historyup to the present, and a means for repeatedly comparing the motionhistory with the target motion sequences. The microprocessor alsoincludes a means for activating the emitting when a match has beendetected between the motion history and the target motion sequence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inventive toy wand in the handof an operator.

[0020]FIGS. 2A & 2B illustrate a method of operating the toy wand ofFIG. 1.

[0021]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the interconnectivity and therelative placement of the components of the toy wand of FIG. 1.

[0022]FIG. 4 is flow chart example of a microprocessor program,controlling operation of the toy wand of FIG. 1

[0023]FIG. 5 illustrates the frame of reference axes of theaccelerometer in the wand.

[0024]FIG. 6 illustrates an Interactive Display

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Operation of the Wand: Summary ofOperation of the Preferred Embodiment

[0025] The wand (200) of the present invention in its preferredembodiment, is held by an operator (201), typically in one hand as shownin FIG. 1. The wand is then moved through a specific sequence ofmotions. When a specific sequence, i.e. a “spell”, has been successfullyperformed, to tolerances set by the ‘classify’ and ‘spell-decode’functions of the wand, the wand will recognize that fact and generate aunique pattern of light activity, herein called a “display”. The wandcan recognize many different spells, each of which has a different,specific sequence of motions. After a properly executed spell hastriggered a display, the operator can then play with the display bymoving the wand about and creating colored patterns and streaks oflight, or the operator can just hold the wand while the displaycontinues to light.

[0026] A unique display is generated for every spell that is decoded.

[0027] A display can be of 2 types; “Simple”, and “Interactive”:

[0028] A simple display executes a fixed pattern of blinking lights.

[0029] During anilnteractive display the light patterns change instantlywith changes with the direction of wand motion or with the speed of thewand.

[0030] The light activity will end, for some displays, by steadying thewand; in other displays it stops after a fixed time period.

Components of the Wand:

[0031] The components of the Wand (100), in the preferred embodiment,are shown in the Block(Connectivity) Diagram FIG. 3:

[0032] A Sturdy, Tubular Case (1) encloses electrical and electroniccomponents:

[0033] A Battery (4) such as Lithium 3.6V AA size, which mounted at thehandle end of the wand (8) and is operably connected to

[0034] A Microprocessor (3) such as Atmel AT2333, which is operablyconnected to one or more

[0035] Colored LED Light Sources (5) such as Nichia NSP LED, which aremounted internally and are optically adjacent to a

[0036] Light Transmitting Tip (endcap) (6), mounted at the tip end ofthe wand (7) and made of such material as acrylic plastic, glass, orcrystal.

[0037] A Motion Sensor (2) such as 2 axis accelerometer Analog DevicesADXL202, which is operably connected in each of its axis outputs by tothe Microprocessor (3)

THEORY OF OPERATION PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The Active Wand

[0038] In this preferred embodiment, a sequence of motions is used todecode(cast) to control) spells.

[0039] A 2-axis accelerometer (2) located near the tip end of the wandis used to provide motion input to the wand microprocessor (3). FIG. 5shows the orientation of the accelerometer in the wand, and theorientation of the accelerometer's 2 sensing axes, X and Y. Theaccelerometer is oriented so that its inactive axis is in line withwand's longitudinal, Z, axis. The accelerometer's and wand's X axis isperpendicular to the Z axis, and is also perpendicular to the earth'svertical axis. The X axis also is usually aligned with the operator'saxis of left-right direction . The accelerometer'Y axis is perpendicularto both the longitudinal (Z) axis of the wand and the X axis, and exitsthe wand near the “orienting indicator” (23) The operator'thumb is onthe same “facing” edge of the wand as the “orienting indicator”.

[0040] Accelerometers are actually force sensors; simultaneouslymeasuring the force applied when [by] an external agent moves thedevice, and that of gravity. The agent-applied force is the componentrequired to “interpret ” the operator's motions as specific instructionsto the wand to select from its collection of Spells. Thereforeacceleration information about the motion of the wand tip along theaccelerometer's X or Y axes is obtained by subtracting out the (typical)gravitational force component from the total force signals provided bythe accelerometer. This subtraction is accomplished by first storing,whenever the wand is steadied, a reference force value for each axis.When the wand is then moving, this “Steady References” pair of values issubtracted from the incoming force signals, thereby providing a usefulmeasure of the wand tip's acceleration.

[0041] Before an operator performs a Spell, he steadies the wand at anyorientation as in FIG. 1, with the one constraint that the subtle“orientation indicator” (23) on the case lines up with his thumb; aconstant of orientation that relieves the microprocessor from having towork in a variable rotational frame of reference. When the wand is thussteadied for a short time (1-2seconds), the microprocessor samples thegravitational force signals, computes and then stores in memory thegravitational “Steady Reference” values. The orientation of the wandduring steadying is herein referred to as the “Steady Reference Point”.After the Steady Reference values are computed, the wand is then readyfor the operator to perform a Spell. Subtle accelerations can now bedetected by the wand, whenever the wand is oriented near the SteadyReference Point.

[0042] When the wand is moving, the microprocessor continually samplesthe force values from the accelerometer and subtracts the SteadyReference value from the sampled input values to produce an accelerationsample. The microprocessor then classifies said acceleration sample intoone of a small group of quantized motion vectors, each vector defined bya direction component and a magnitude component. These motion vectorsare defined (notated) by a direction/magnitude pair, such as [Up,1] or[Left,3] or [Down,2]. (The terms for direction values “Down” and “Up“are only strictly accurate directional when the wand's Y axis is in linewith the earth's vertical.)

[0043] These motion vectors are herein referred to as Classified MotionVectors (CMV). Examples of the direction component (10) of the CMV for 2motion sequences (paths) are shown in FIGS. 2a and 2 b. The arrowedlines in FIG. 2 shows the path of movement, the bracketed value next tothe line shows the resultant (net) acceleration direction; up, down,left or right. The Steady Reference Point (22) is shown in the center ofthe circle in FIG. 2a.

[0044] The preferred embodiment uses 4 directions and 4 magnitudes,yielding a total of 16 possible CMVs, shown in Table 1.

[0045] TABLE 1 Possible CMW Values for Preferred Embodiment

[0046] [Up, 1], [Up, 2], [Up, 3], [Up, 4]

[0047] [Dn, 1], [Dn, 2], [Dn, 3], [Dn, 4]

[0048] [Lf, 1], [Lf, 2], [Lf, 3], [Lf, 4]

[0049] [Rt, 1], [Rt, 2], [Rt, 3], [Rt, 4]

[0050] Each time the CMV changes to a new value, the new CMV is bufferedin a list (Motion History Buffer) that stores recent CMVs. The SpellDecode section of the microprocessor's program (FIG. 4) then comparesthe string of recent CMVs against a pre-stored list (Spell SequenceLibrary) of allowable Spell sequences and determines if a close-enoughsequence has been performed to declare a Spell “Match”. The Spell Decodeand Match method is in all respects similar to well established art inthe field of sequential pattern matching and recognition.

[0051] When a specific sequence of motion vectors has been matched toone of a stored list of motion vectors, a ”Spell” will have beenconsidered successfully performed, and the microprocessor's program willthen proceed into the Display mode part of its program. For each Spellthat may be matched, there is a corresponding, unique Light Display,linked to it, and the type of display may be either “Simple' or“Interactive.”

[0052] If the linked display is a “Simple” display, the microprocessorprogram will proceed, upon entering the display program section, to setup loop counters and timers in order to turn each LED on and offaccording to a predetermined timing pattern. Techniques for patternedlight displays, controlled by a program, are a well-established art, andno novel techniques are here added. The display continues its lightpattern until the wand is steadied, or until a predetermined time periodhas elapsed.

[0053] If the linked Display is an “Interactive” display themicroprocessor program will proceed, upon entering the display program,to turn the LEDs on and off as a function of subsequent motion samples,this function being predefined in the program. For example, whenever theCMV direction value is “Up” or “Down” turn on the blue LED (5), andwhenever the CMV is “Left” or “Right”, turn on the red LED (5) (FIG. 6).When in the Display mode, the microprocessor continues looping throughthe “Input” and “Classify” processes (FIG. 4), providing new motioninformation to the Display process. Interactive displays cease when thewand is steadied.

The Inactive Wand

[0054] There are four modes that the wand can be operating in. The“Spell Decode” mode and the “Display” mode have already been discussedin the Active Wand discussion. The other 2 modes are “Steady”, and“Sleep”.

[0055] When the wand is steadied, the microprocessor enters Steady Mode,the qualitative physical property “Steady” is quantitatively determinedby the program by means of comparing the inputted acceleration magnitudeto a “Steady Threshold”, a constant pre-determined in the program. Ifsaid magnitude is less than the Steady Threshold for a number of inputsamples equal to about 1 second of time, then Steady mode has beenentered.

[0056] When the program is in the Steady mode, it performs the followfunctions: The microprocessor program is generates a “Steady Reference”value for use in the Input process. The program resets the CMV motionhistory buffer to allow new spells to be recognized. The programprovides a “Steady-Ready” blink to indicate to the operator that thewand is ready for a Spell.

[0057] If the wand is set down or held steady for a long period, thenthe program moves to the “Sleep” mode and powers down for low batterydrain. After a long sleep period, preferably 20-90 seconds, themicroprocessor wakes and moves to “Steady” mode to accept motion input.

EXAMPLES OF WAND OPERATION: EXAMPLE 1:

[0058] The wand operator holds the wand, with the orienting indicator(23) upwards, as in FIG. 1, and steadies the wand for a short period.The operator then moves the tip of the wand in a circular clockwisemotion (FIG. 2a). This motion will produce a sequence of ClassifiedMotion Vectors (10). If this sequence has been performed accurately andin a timely manner, then the wand will have interpreted this as havingcompleted a specific spell, Spell_A, for example. The wand will thenstart a lights display, in this example it will be a InteractiveDisplay, which is specific for Spell_A. In this example, the wand willproduce a very short white LED blink (202) every time the CMV valuechanges direction. The Wand will continue in this Interactive Displayuntil the operator steadies the Wand. The light display will then cease,and the operator is able to perform a new spell, if he or she sodesires.

EXAMPLE 2:

[0059] In a second example, the operator, after steadying the wand,performs a new sequence of motions (FIG. 2b), consisting of a motion tothe down, followed by a motion to the operator's right. Upon recognizingthis Spell_B, the wand enters a “Simple” display (not Interactive),which rapidly blinks all of the LED lights in a random fashion, for asparkler effect. The display is unaffected by any motion of the Wand,and turns off by itself after a fixed period.

EXAMPLE 3:

[0060] In a third example, the operator will perform a clockwise motionsimilar to Example 1, but moving in a quicker manner. Because of thestronger acceleration, the wand will decode this motion as Spell_C, anda different display will be initiated.

[0061] After the wand has been in its resting mode for a while, it movesto sleep mode to conserve electricity. The wand will then wake up aftera period and stay awake if there is motion of the wand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE BLOCK DIAGRAM, FIG. 3

[0062] The BATTERY supplies current directly to the MicroProcessor. Thecurrent to the Motion Detector and LED lights is controlled(supplied) bythe MicroProcessor.

[0063] The MOTION DETECTOR, such as an accelerometer, supplies motioninformation to the MicroProcessor.

[0064] A typical motion detector is a 2 axis accelerometer. Inertialrolling ball and spring assemblies that react to gravity or accelerationdue to change in motion or tilt are also useful motion detectors for thepurpose of this Wand invention. Also, air speed sensors are usefulmotion detectors for purposes of this invention.

[0065] In the preferred embodiment, the motion detector is a single chipintegrated circuit device such as the ADXL202.

[0066] THE MICROPROCESSOR executes a program, which encodes, interprets,classifies, stores in memory, and controls all the activity of the Wand.

[0067] For purposes of this invention, most general purpose small,single chip microprocessors are suitable.

[0068] The microprocessor requires an internal stored program memory,general purpose memory, ports suitable for interfacing to motion sensorsand LED lights, a power down mode, and enough speed to process manyhundreds of motion samples per second. The clock for the microprocessormay be internal to the microprocessor part, or externally supplied.

[0069] AN EXAMPLE of a MicroProcessor program, for the preferredembodiment, is shown in the flow chart of FIG. 4. The major pathsthrough the flow chart are demonstrated.

[0070] The program first starts execution when the MicroProcessor isfirst electrically connected to the battery or when the micro isinternally woken up, and continues looping through the processesindefinitely, when not in SLEEP MODE.

[0071] The INPUT process accepts a sample of motion information from themotion sensor input, and processes that motion sample for later use .

[0072] If a sample's acceleration magnitude, is above a low “Quiet”threshold, then the program moves on to the CLASSIFY process whichclassifies the motion into one of a set of distinct, quantized motions(CMVs).

[0073] If Display Mode is not set, the program determines if the currentCMV is different from the last sample. If it is different, the CMV isstored in the Motion History Buffer and the program then moves to theSPELL DECODE process, which attempts to match the motions in the historybuffer to a specific Spell's sequence of motions, as stored in thelibrary of Spell sequences.

[0074] If a match with a specific Spell is found, then the programs moveto a DISPLAY process that produces a specific light pattern for thematched Spell.

[0075] If the matched Spell has a Simple Display associated with it, theprogram will start a timer, and before the timer has “timed out”, willdisplay a fixed pattern of blinking lights.

[0076] If the matched Spell was linked to an Interactive Display, theprogram will continue processing and interpreting motion samples whilein the display mode, and use the motion samples to affect the lightsdisplay. This display will continue as long as the Wand is beingactively moved.

Alternate Pathways and Processes:

[0077] If the motion magnitude is “Quiet”, then the program enters aSTEADY MODE and, eventually (after a moderate period) SLEEP MODE andlooping is discontinued. After a long period of sleep, the main loopprocess is re-started at the “Initialize and Setup” process.

[0078] The program can be viewed as always operating in one of fourMODES:

[0079] In the DECODE MODE, while decoding, the program loops through theInput Process, the Classify Process, the Spell Decode Process, and thenback to the Input Process.

[0080] In the DISPLAY MODE, the program loops through the Input Process,the Classify Process, the Display Process, and then back to the InputProcess.

[0081] In the STEADY MODE, the program loops through the Input Process,the Steady Reset Process, and the back to the Input Process.

[0082] In the SLEEP MODE, the program moves to the PowerDown Process,then the Wait Process, followed by the Wake Process.

[0083] The COLORED LIGHTS, such as LEDs, are connected to and controlledby the MicroProcessor. The LED (or other) light sources, required to bevery bright and of unusual colors, are mounted internally and areoptically adjacent to the EndCap.

[0084] The ENDCAP, made of such as acrylic plastic, glass, or crystal,and mounted at the end of the wand, may be constructed or surfaced insuch a manner to alter the path of the direct light by diffusion orrefraction.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS Second Embodiment—Position/Orientation Sensing

[0085] A second embodiment of the wand uses position or orientationsensing, as well as or in place of motion sensing.

[0086] Because of the force of gravity, accelerometers can be used tosense position /orientation, or more accurately, tilt angle—thedifference in angle between the accelerometer's axis of operation andthe direction to the center of the earth. The effect of the force ofgravity on the accelerometer therefore varies with the tilt angle, andthis force was subtracted from the accelerometer input in the preferredembodiment in order to find the true acceleration of the tip. In thissecond embodiment, position/orientation, as defined by the resultantforce of gravity on each accelerometer axis, is used sequentially as thedeterminant in defining and performing a Spell. In this embodiment aspell is performed by moving the wand to a series of pre-determinedpositions/orientations.

[0087] A quantized position/orientation co-ordinate pair is used to makea classified position/orientation indicator, similar to the ClassifiedMotion Vector in the preferred embodiment.

[0088] Further the positional/orientational inputs can be used to modifydisplays. For example, the frequency of blinking LED lights can bechanged depending on how the wand is oriented/positioned.

Third Embodiment—Additional Sources of Input

[0089] Additional inputs, in conjunction with motion and positionsensing, provide an exciting and novel array of modes for the wand torespond to. Some examples of means for providing additional electronicinputs include:

[0090] MAGNETIC SENSORS for use in a compass spell or display.

[0091] LIGHT SENSORS for use in detecting other light sources, and foruse in determining day from night.

[0092] TEMPERATURE SENSORS give the Wand information about seasonal andindoor/outdoor use.

[0093] The additional sensors can have an effect during almost any phaseof the Wand's operation.

[0094] A magnetic sensor, for example can be used during a Display tocause a light to blink only when the wand is pointing North.

[0095] A light sensor can be used, for example, to cause a longer periodof Sleep during the daylight hours than at night. Also, blinking lightfrom another source can be sensed and cause the wand to jump directlyinto a blinking Display.

[0096] A temperature sensor can, for example, cause the wand to inhibitsome Spells during certain seasons or weather conditions, and causeother Spells and Displays to be enabled.

[0097] The lights need not be only internal to the case, but may beexternal or otherwise mounted.

[0098] The accelerometer may be measuring along one, two,or three axes.

[0099] The microprocessor may be any electronic device capable ofperforming the described processes.

[0100] The motion detector may be any device capable of detecting thevelocity, acceleration, position or orientation of the wand.

1. A toy wand for operation by a human comprising: an elongated casinghaving a first end and a second end; a means for detecting motion ofsaid wand; a means for emitting a human-detectable response; amicroprocessor operably connecting said means for detecting and saidmeans for emitting, said microprocessor including: a first library oftarget motion sequences; a time buffer for recording a history of saidmotion extending up to the present; comparison means for repeatedlycomparing said history of said motion with said target motion sequences;activation means for activating said means for emitting when saidcomparison means detects a match between said history of said motionextending up to the present and one of said target motion sequences. 2.The toy wand of claim 1 wherein said microprocessor further includes asecond library of activation sequences, each of said activationsequences corresponding to one of said target motion sequences, andwherein said activation means activates said means for emitting as perone of said activation sequences corresponding to said one of saidtarget motion sequences. 3) The toy wand of claim 1 wherein said meansfor detecting is an accelerometer, said accelerometer sensingacceleration of said first end of said toy wand. 4) The toy wand ofclaim 2 wherein said means for emitting is a lighting display pattern ofmulti-colored LED lights. 5) The toy wand of claim 4 wherein saidlighting pattern is dependent on said motion.